Clothespin



April 14, 1964 D. w. ALLEY CLOTHESPIN Filed Nov. 6, 1961 fla /a W A //e5/ INVENTOR,

ww iz United States Patent 3,128,517 CLOTHESPIN David W. Alley, 5917 Hartbrook, Houston, Tex. Filed Nov. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 150,234 2 Claims. (Cl. 24-137) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a clothespin.

It is an object of this invention to provide a clothespin for use in hanging clothes on a clothes line having novel means of applying tension to the garment and line.

It is an object of the invention to provide a clothespin having no mechanically moving parts and which may be easily cleaned and stored.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a novel article of manufacture comprising a clothespin formed of a molded body having tubular inserts to provide a gripping surface.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention has relation to certain novel features of construction more particularly defined in the following specifications and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a colthespin suspended garment on a clothes line.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the pin.

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional end view of the pin taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 2, and

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of the pin, in cross section.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a longitudinal body member of rigid material, such as wood or molded plastic, having a longitudinal slot 2 therein extending transversely through the body member and from one end of the body member to a point approximately two thirds of the length of the body member forming substantially parallel legs.

The slotted end of the body member has end faces formed therein inwardly tapered as 3, 3, and longitudinal axial grooves 4, 4 are formed in the side walls of the inner walls of said legs in opposing relation. Flexible tubular inserts 5, 5 are mounted in the grooves 4, 4 in abutting relation. The outer end faces of the inserts 5, 5 are tapered inwardly at 6, 6 in alignment with the taper or the end faces 3, 3 of the body member 1.

When it is desired to hang a garment as 7 on a clothes line as 8, the fabric of the garment 7 is pinned to the line 8 by forcing the garment and line into the slot 2, the flexible tubing inserts 5, 5 yielding to receive the line and fabric, and the tension placed thereon effecting a gripping action on the garment and line.

In the form shown in the drawings, the inserts 5, 5 are glued or otherwise anchored in the grooves 4, 4. However, it is contemplated that the entire pin may be fabricated of plastic in one operation, the tubular inserts 5, 5 being an integral part of the body member 1.

While the foregoing is considered a preferred form of the invention, it is by way of illustration only, the broad principle of the invention being defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a clothespin, a rigid body member, there being a longitudinal axial slot in said body member extending from one end thereof to a point adjacent the other end thereof, there being axial opposing grooves in the side walls of said slot, flexible tubular inserts mounted in and extending the full length of said grooves, the slotted end of said body member having inwardly tapering end faces, and the end faces of said inserts at the slotted end of said body member being tapered inwardly in alignment with the end faces of said body member.

2. In a clothespin, a rigid cylindrical body member, there being a longitudinal axial slot in said body member extending from one end thereof to a point adjacent the other end thereof and forming spaced substantially parallel legs, there being axial opposing grooves in the opposed inner Walls of said legs, flexible tubular inserts mounted in and extending the full length of said grooves in abutting relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,110,025 Yeager Sept. 8, 1914 2,332,722 Amer Oct. 26, 1943 2,488,958 Boynton Nov. 22, 1949 2,539,805 Allen Jan. 30, 1951 2,888,725 Cudd June 2, 1959 3,032,849 Cohen et a1. May 8, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 18,577 Great Britain of 1891 16,767 Great Britain of 1896 659,641 Great Britain Oct. 24, 1951 58,374 Austria Mar. 26, 1913 102,894 Australia Dec. 29, 1937 370,449 Germany Mar. 3, 1923 

1. IN A CLOTHESPIN, A RIGID BODY MEMBER, THERE BEING A LONGITUDINAL AXIAL SLOT IN SAID BODY MEMBER EXTENDING FROM ONE END THEREOF TO A POINT ADJACENT THE OTHER END THEREOF, THERE BEING AXIAL OPPOSING GROOVES IN THE SIDE WALLS OF SAID SLOT, FLEXIBLE TUBULAR INSERTS MOUNTED IN AND EXTENDING THE FULL LENGTH OF SAID GROOVES, THE SLOTTED END OF SAID BODY MEMBER HAVING INWARDLY TAPERING END FACES, AND THE END FACES OF SAID INSERTS AT THE SLOTTED END OF SAID BODY MEMBER BEING TAPERED INWARDLY IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE END FACES OF SAID BODY MEMBER. 